Cycling's Great Tour

Obviously the Great Tour is Le Tour de France




BUT


Cycling's Great Tour sets off in Seaton

Riders in The Great Tour, a brand new endurance cycling challenge around the coastline of Britain, set off from Seaton, South Devon last Saturday 3 July.

Around 30 riders began the incredible feat, which will run continuously for 64 days until 4 September, and cover a staggering 6,600km circuit around the country, which will pass through hundreds of seaside towns including Brighton, Skegness, St. Andrews, Carmarthen and Padstow, before finding its way back to Seaton.

The Marine Brass Band led the riders to the official start line along the seafront for a 10.30am start. This annual event has been created to raise awareness and provide a fund-raising platform for Caravan The Grocery Industry’s Benevolent Fund and will also be partnering with The Prostate Cancer Charity, the exclusive charity of The Tour of Britain.

Among the cyclists taking on this unique challenge, which represents the first ever full circumnavigation of Britain’s mainland by bike on this dedicated route, was Tristan Gemmill of BBC1’s Casualty. He was joined by Seaton’s very own Alistair Cope, who is chair of the Axe Valley Peddlers.

“Completing The Great Tour in its entirety will be tough, but I am very much looking forward to the challenge, and excited to be one of the first people to take on the inaugural route around the UK. It will also help to raise awareness of prostate cancer, a cause I am passionate about.

“I’ve always cycled to keep fit, but I used to walk, climb and do mountaineering a lot more. It was only when I started up my own cycling club – the Axe Valley Peddlers – six years ago that I became a lot more active with it, he said.”

As the first event of its kind in Britain, the inaugural Great Tour will build on the ever-growing popularity of cycling, allied to a surge in interest in Britain’s coastal resorts. In addition, it is hoped that the event will help bring increased focus to the rich history and culture of the country’s many seaside towns, villages, cliffs and beaches on route.

The Great Tour is being endorsed and sponsored by numerous companies, brands and organisations including Visit Britain who have recognised the tremendous boost to cycling tourism presented by The Great Tour. Children and their parents will also be encouraged to join in and Cycling England will be the body co-ordinating this activity.

Hugh Roberts, CEO of The Great Tour organisers SweetSpot, said: “By taking cycling around the country, we’re hoping to create a lasting legacy where people of all ages and ability can safely experience coastal Britain on a bike. This looks set to be an incredible event which will raise money for two great causes whilst celebrating our wonderful island heritage.”

John Neate, Chief Executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity said: “We wish the riders well in this fantastic feat. We are now well into the second year of our successful partnership with The Tour of Britain. The Great Tour is an exciting extension of this partnership and is a great boost to our ‘Unite ByCycling’ initiative where we are urging people to get on their bikes - whatever their cycling ability - to support the Charity in its fight against prostate cancer. We think the Great Tour has huge potential not only to raise funds, but also to significantly increase awareness of the disease. To any keen cyclist, this event also offers the very attractive proposition of getting outdoors and taking in some of our breathtaking coastal scenery.”

Anyone wanting to find out more can visit http://www.thegreattour.org/ Anyone inspired by the challenge to hop onto two wheels themselves can take part in The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Rides at three locations across the UK - including for the first time this year, the South West.

The ride in the South West, which takes place on Sunday 5 September, offers cyclists three distances along a spectacularly scenic route, whether they go for the 175km ‘beast of a ride’ from Minehead to Teignmouth, an easier but still challenging 70km, covering part of the route, or a more leisurely, family friendly 2km.

Participants can also choose from two other events, in London and Stoke-on-Trent.

To find out more information visit http://www.tourride.co.uk/ or call 020 8222 7160.

ENDS